We’ve been asking when the Giants will call up Kyle Harrison all season, and Shawn Estes is done with it.
The former Giants starting pitcher says it’s time to bring up San Francisco’s top prospect, especially with a brutal stretch of schedule upcoming and only two legit starters on the roster.
“I think it’s time for Kyle Harrison,” Estes said on KNBR Tuesday. “Give him the job. He’s not a guy who is going to go out there and throw 100 pitches, but if you can get 75-80 pitches out of him, see how far he can go.
“One more start down in Triple-A, then he’s your guy in the next rotation. He’s gotta be.”
Farhan Zaidi has said the Giants are ready to call Harrison up, but are waiting to see a little more consistency with location. Harrison has shown that in his last two starts, tossing 11 strikeouts with no walks in 7.1 innings.
In addition to thinking he’s ready, Estes also believes the opener strategy has run its course.
“You gotta have a guy come up right now that can give you five to start the game,” Estes said. “I’m tired of the opener. I’ve never been a fan of it as you guys know, but when it was working I’m buying in, as long as they’re winning games, but now they’re not winning games with it. You’re playing tough teams. I think with Kyle Harrison, this is his time. You give him a start, get his pitch count up to 75, and see what he can do at the big leagues.”
Estes believes that Harrison will be used as a traditional starter, as it would be far too risky to bring him up and then throw him into an unfamiliar situation.
“I would guess they will not have him come out of the bullpen, be the featured guy, just because he’s started,” Estes concluded. “He’s a young guy, you’ve got to protect him. If you ask any of the starters, that’s why Alex Wood doesn’t like to do it. I guarantee you none of the guys that have started their whole career love to do it.
“It’s something you don’t want your prized lefty, No. 1 prospect to have to do. It’s hard to gauge when to get loose. He has a routine right now that he goes through every fifth or sixth day. He goes out on the field does his running, probably gets his long toss in, you can’t do any of that stuff when you’re coming in and out of the bullpen.”
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